CanSat is exhibiting in Feb!

For our design teams, aerodynamics is very important as our CanSat is deployed from the rocket and falls back to the earth. Paper rockets have similar aerodynamic challenges that have to be considered during their design. A thin strip of paper will wrap around a pencil and be taped to form the fuselage of the rocket. The pencil is then removed from the fuselage and then cut at an angle at the top and taped to form a nose cone. Fins may be added to the rocket. The rockets are now ready for their launch on a straw.

CanSat at VT is a student organisation that represents the three CanSat teams from Virginia Tech. CanSat is a competition for students to build a miniature satellite roughly the size of two soda cans that gets launched into the lower atmosphere and collects and transmits atmospheric and telemetry data on its way down to the ground.

Animal Adaptations to Polar Cold - exhibit on Feb 26th

How do animals survive in a land where the average winter temperature can be less than -30°F? Animals in Polar Regions have special adaptations that help them to endure temperature that can plunge to below -100°F. An interactive demonstration will show how a covering of blubber helps to insulate marine mammals and penguins. Other adaptations such as coloration and special fur or feathers will also be explored. The exercise came from the C2S2 Education Program, Andril Project. Catherine Short, 4-H Extension Agent, King William and King & Queen Counties.

MicroN_BASE Lab

Our project uses gadgets called Microbial Fuel Cells to make electricity for
places that can't get it easily. We feed wastewater from a sewer to the
germs we put in the fuel cell and they give off enough electricity to power
small items like a fan or a light. People have been using these for a long
time, but right now they don't make enough electricity to make them really
useful. We are trying different things to make the fuel cells smaller and
put out more electricity.

Our project is hosted by the MicroN BASE (Micro/Nano Biotic/Abiotic Systems
Engineering) laboratory. The MicroN BASE lab conducts research in a number
of different areas at the intersection of biological and nanoscale sciences.
The principal investigator for this work is Dr. Bahareh Behkam, with Dr.
Michael Ellis co-advising.

Southwest VATS

Southwest VATS is one of three regional sites of the Virginia Assistive Technology System, a statewide project committed to improving the quality of life for all Virginians by increasing awareness and accessibility of assistive technology (AT). Established in 1990, VATS is administered by the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS). Our Southwest Region encompasses 14,000 square miles in 29 counties and 13 independent cities.

We will help staff the Assistive Technologies display and showcase some of our devices and software with a similar focus as our campus AT partners.

VT Human-Powered Submarine team

Human-Powered Submarine team will be presenting a hands on activity were the kids will be able to figure out how one can use the components of a design to complete a design. We are engraving a design of our submarine or a component of our sub into wood and cutting the wood into equal squares then scramble them up, and have the kids try to fit the pieces together in the right position.

“Computing and Gaming through the Ages"- KTU exhibit on Feb. 26th

Abstract: An exhibit of computing through the ages. Come see what gaming looked like in the 70's and 80's! Ever wonder what a "punch card" or a "slide rule" looked like? What did kids in the 70’s use to listen to their favorite music? (Hint: There were no MP3 players!) Find out what year the Internet was born. Kids will have a chance to take a sneak peek into Computers Through the Ages: The Evolution of Computing. We will have several dinosaur computers and gaming units on display as well as a PowerPoint presentation highlighting their evolution.

"The Techsupport Community at Virginia Tech is a collaborative discussion group, facilitated by a listserv, of Central and Departmental Information Technology faculty and staff. “

Alpha Pi Mu is exhibiting at KTU!

The Virginia Tech Chapter of Alpha Pi Mu, the Industrial Engineering Honor Society will be presenting a lego-building exercise for kids. Industrial engineering at its core it the manifestation of teamwork to build things and move processes in the most efficient manner. The lego-building help kids interact with one another through lego-building, where one will communicate steps and the other will build. Teamwork at its essence. And who doesn't love Legos?!

Engineering Without Boarders

The Virginia Tech chapter of Engineers Without Borders-USA (EWB) partners with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally, equitable, and economically sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineers and engineering students through education, encouragement, and experience. Current international endeavors include projects in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, and Uganda. We also have a K-12 and local outreach program which strives to serve the local community in various forms, including engineering education activities for local area students.

For the EWB exhibit, we will have a See-and-Say dissection. Basically, we will illustrate step-by-step how to take apart the common household toy and the importance of the different parts. Kids will get the opportunity to take apart and reconstruct the toy with tools, while learning how the toy itself works. With this hands on experience, the kids will receive insight on the process that goes behind designing these types of products. During the activity, we will touch upon the steps involved in engineering design and planning, as well as basic concepts covered in product competition and analysis. Our overall goal with this exhibit is to promote the interest of engineering in young students.

Furthermore, our exhibit will contain further information about what EWB itself is about, both locally and internationally. Should people like to get involved with EWB in some form, relative information will be available.

Civil Engineering Department will be exhibiting at KTU!

The exhibit will be hosted by Dr. Jesus M. de la Garza, a professor of the Vecellio Construction Engineering and Management Program (VCEMP) and one of his students, Sabina Fedrowitz, a senior in the Civil Engineering Department.

The topic of our exhibit is “The Crumbling of America’s Infrastructure.” The condition of our infrastructure is in terrible shape and is in need of repair. The American Society of Civil Engineers publishes a report card for our infrastructure every few years. The most recent grades from 2009 are out and they are embarrassing. The overall grade is a ‘D.’ We need to make it a priority of ours to improve and fix our crumbling infrastructure. Young kids can help by becoming interested in studying fields of either science or engineering. The exhibit will feature video clips of examples of our deteriorating infrastructure that kids can select to watch. We hope this will be an eye-opener for students to see what is going on in the world of engineering.

What is Human Factors?- exhibiting on Feb. 27th

Human Factors is a specialization of engineering and branch of applied psychology in which systems such as computers, medical devices and airplanes are designed, built and assessed upon how safe it is for people to use them. During the sessions kids will learn how humans process information and how to design products and systems incorporating human's strength and compensate for their weaknesses.

Kids also will learn about: memory, learning, sensation, perception, feedback, thinking, assumptions and interpretation.

About the Group: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

Our mission is to promote discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. The purpose of our society is to promote and advance the understanding of human factors involved in the design, manufacture, and use of machines, systems, and devices of all kinds through the exchange of knowledge and methodology in the behavioral, biological, and physical sciences. We are planning to have lab visits, community outreach, social events, and a speaker series to promote our organization.

Community Service (CS^2) is exhibiting on Feb. 26th!

Community Service (CS^2), a student volunteer organization at Virginia Tech. The organization is committed to raising interest in Computer Science and technology education in the community through volunteer efforts. They will have 4-8 laptop computers running some of the software and programs we teach the kids at our volunteer sites at local schools. These will include Google sketch-up for simple 3d modeling, games designed to teach simple programming principles, and a simple game builder. We just let participants know what each computer is running and allow the kids to pick and choose which stations they want to try out while our volunteers provide guidance with the programs.

Virginia Tech's Interdisciplinary Studies Student Organization

We are Virginia Tech's Interdisciplinary Studies Student Organization (IDSTSO), an organization filled with aspiring elementary school teachers. Our goal is to engage children in our study of geography. Our geography exhibit will enhance the knowledge of cultural celebrations around the world as well as understanding important historical expansion in a fun and interactive way. We are so excited to get the opportunity to work with your children; we look forward to seeing you all!

Sigma Alpha

Sigma Alpha is a professional agricultural sorority and is focused on scholarship, leadership and service. One of our biggest goals is to educate the public about agriculture and it's importance in society.

We are having the kids make a soil profile with different types of cereal. This will teach them the different textures and particle sizes of each horizon in the soil. We will be modeling the soil that is found in this area.

VSU KTU exhibitors

• Dr. Christopher Catanzaro (from VSU) - Plants for the seasons.
• Drs. Kristy Collins (from Virginia Bioinformatics Institute) and Dr. Kathleen Jamison (from Virginia 4-H) - will be working with teachers from the surrounding communities. We will have exhibits set up from ANDRILL's Flexhibit materials. Also come by to see the Extreme Cold Weather gear scientists wear down in Antarctica to keep from freezing!

VT Kids' Tech University - News Release

As the nation's top government officials target efforts to help better prepare America's students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subject areas, a program at Virginia Tech that is the realization of these efforts is gearing up for a new semester of on-campus activities.

Kids' Tech University (KTU), a program developed at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension's 4-H Youth Development Program to spark children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, will return to the Virginia Tech campus in January 2011. A groundbreaking program for kids between the ages of 9 and 12 (as of Sept. 30, 2010) living within a four-hour drive of the Virginia Tech campus, KTU is designed to introduce kids to STEM topics and life on a university campus at an early age. Held four Saturdays over the course of the spring semester, the events feature student-focused sessions with internationally recognized scientific researchers and hands-on activities developed by various Virginia Tech student clubs, Virginia 4-H extension agents, Virginia Tech professors, and community organizations to encourage further exploration of the lecture topics. The fun and excitement of KTU continues after the children leave campus through an online lab component featuring activities designed to cultivate continued interest. Online enrollmentfor the spring 2011 semester will begin on Dec. 6, 2010 at 6 p.m.

Children participate in a workshop at KTU

In October, President Barack Obama hosted the White House Science Fair to recognize the winners of a broad range of STEM competitions for students, which is part of the President's Educate to Innovate campaign created to boost American students' achievements in science and math. President Obama has been a staunch supporter of strengthening relationships between the scientific community and the broader public and elementary and high school students and teachers, working closely with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) to create new ways for science and math professionals to connect with students.

"One of the goals of the current administration is to get scientists, engineers, and mathematicians into the classroom to interact with students and teachers," explains Reinhard Laubenbacher, professor and director of education and outreach at VBI, who spearheaded the development of KTU based on a similar program in Germany. "KTU takes this one step further. We connect researchers with students, as well as the students’ parents and teachers, in a university environment. This not only helps cultivate student interest in these subject areas, but also introduces them to life on a college campus at an early age. Our afternoon hands-on activities give the children an opportunity to see how the concepts they learn about in the KTU lectures actually work."

The following is the schedule for the spring 2011 KTU semester:

• January 29, 2011
  "Patterns are Everywhere! How and Why?" Reinhard Laubenbacher, professor, Virginia Bioinformatics Institute; professor of mathematics, Virginia Tech
• February 26, 2011
  "Why are glaciers in Antarctica important to people who live in Virginia?" Ellen Cowan, professor of geology, Appalachian State University
• March 26, 2011
  "Why do we care about frogs' health?" Tyrone Hayes, professor of integrative biology, University of California, Berkeley
• April 9, 2011
  "Why do we want to touch everything with our fingertips? And more 'why' questions about how our bodies communicate with the world." Helena Carvalho, assistant professor of basic sciences, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute

Together, the Virginia 4-H STEM Initiative and VBI's education and outreach team provide a comprehensive program for students and teachers. Guest researchers and 4-H Youth Development Professor Kathleen Jamison offer teacher training sessions based on STEM content and learning pedagogy through experiential and inquiry-based learning strategies. The teachers apply what they have learned in the training workshops through hands-on/minds-on applications of the content during the activity stations offered for Kids’ Tech University participants. University departments and 4-H agents with relevant content expertise provide additional learning centers. Virginia 4-H will reach 50,000 new youth in a variety of STEM areas across the next three years.

"Kids' Tech University has continued to grow since it’s first semester in 2009," said Kristy Collins, a senior research associate in VBI's education and outreach group and KTU leader. "In addition to our semester of student-focused lectures, hands-on programs, and professional career development opportunities for teachers, we continue to work towards our goal of setting up KTU programs across the nation and launched our first off-site program at Virginia State University in September."

Registration

Registration will begin at 6 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2010 and the first 450 students registered will be accepted. To help offset the costs of the program, a $25 registration fee will be required for each student. Parents may apply for scholarships to cover the registration fee.

Written by Susan Bland

VSU Exhibitors Continued!

• Dr. Nasser Ghariban
• Dr. Ali Ansari
• Ms. Liz Alford- Science Museum of Virginia
• Ms. Mallory Foster- VSU Dietetic Department- Foods for different climates.

More VSU KTU exhibitors!

• Ms. Edwina Westbrook- Microscopic exploration with the smaller things in Life.
• Mr. Bobby Motte & Eric Clover- Robotics – The return of the machine. “ I Will be Back”
• Dr. Leonard Pearlman- Cook it with the Sun. Solar power and cooking.
• Mr. Gary Speiran-U. S. Geological Survey (Richmond)- Internet computerized water temperatures.

VSU KTU exhibitors

On Dec. 4th, the following exhibitors from Virginia State University will be coming out to the KTU at VSU program!

• Dr. Asmare Atalay- Geological stratification model.
• Mr. Andy Hankins- Alternative agriculture in a changing climate.
• Mr. Chris Walker- Environs – cape model. Where does the water go?
• Dr. Edward Sismour- Fish for all climates.

“Wasted: Not an Option”

VSU faculty exhibitor- Dr. Evelyn Whitehead
“Wasted: Not an Option”
This interactive exhibit is designed to demonstrate the effects of alcohol use on coordination, health and academics. Students will use simulated drinking goggles while taking a sobriety walk to show the effects of alcohol intoxication on perception and coordination.

“Everyday Objects using a Loupe and Microscope-A Private Eye Experience”

VSU Faculty exhibitor- Dr. Edwina Westbrook
“Everyday Objects using a Loupe and Microscope-A Private Eye Experience”
Kids will use a jeweler’s loupe and a hand held digital microscope to image everyday objects. They will be asked a series of questions to evoke thinking by analogy, the main tool of the scientist, artist, writer and more. Kids will have an opportunity to write and draw what they see. Images will be captured digitally and those who bring jump drives will be able to take their captured pictures with them.